The annual inflation rate in Argentina increased to 22.8% in August, from 21.8% a month before, remaining above the 12% to 17% target range for this year, according to the country's central bank.

The annual inflation reading combine data from the new Argentinean inflation index, which has national coverage, and the previous benchmark index, which monitored prices only in Buenos Aires metropolitan area.

The new consumer price index showed that monthly inflation in Argentina was at 1.4% in August, from 1.7% in July. The former benchmark index revealed that in Buenos Aires metropolitan area monthly inflation fell from 1.7% to 1.5%.

Both readings, however, were below the 1.6% market expectation, according to a recent central bank survey.

U.S. equities advanced to all-time peaks on Tuesday as financials received a lift from rising yields. Wall Street also priced in comments from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on tax reform.

Investors paid attention to Washington after Treasury Secretary Mnuchin said he is “hopeful” that tax reform will be accomplished by year's end and that the administration is contemplating on backdating reform to Jan. 1.

The Dow Jones industrial average ended at 22,118.86, notching a record finish. Goldman Sachs contributed the most to advances, with DowDuPont being among the best-performing stocks in the index, finishing 2.5 percent higher.

The S&P 500 advanced 0.3 percent, hitting intraday and closing records. The index ended the session at 2,496.48. The Nasdaq composite rose 0.3 percent at 6,454.28, a record closing peak, after briefly declining.

Financials climbed over one percent, with six major lenders higher between 1.5 percent and 2.6 percent, after Goldman Sachs revealed a growth plan that could contribute almost $5 billion in revenue annually.

Shares of McDonald's dropped over three percent on a report that a research company had raised concerns regarding its third-quarter sales.

Apple held its annual consumer products event, where it unveiled three new iPhone models and an Apple watch. Its shares fell 0.4 percent, after fluctuating between gains and losses for most of the session. For the year, Apple soared around 40 percent.

Venezuela's National Constituent Assembly (ANC) rejected the European Parliament call for sanctions against the country and its condemnation to the election held on July 30 in the South American country.

"From this empowered and sovereign National Constituent Assembly, we reject all attempts to intervene in Venezuela. We repudiate all actions against our homeland aimed at its intervention," said the ANC chairwoman Delcy Rodr?guez during the session, according to the Venezuelan News Agency.

Earlier, the European Parliament stated that "does not recognize these elections nor the actions or decisions adopted by the recently constituted Assembly due to its lack of legitimacy."

European markets finished relatively flat on Wednesday, as a mixed performance from overseas markets and a sharp drop in mining stocks added pressure on the region.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed 0.02 percent lower, while sectors pointed in different directions. The French CAC 40 and German DAX finished on a high, ending 0.17 and 0.23 percent respectively. A decline in London-listed miners weighed on the FTSE 100, which ended 0.28 percent lower.

Basic resources stocks led declines, as profit-taking hit metal prices. The sector dropped 1.75 percent after commodity traders claim an emergence of funds offloaded copper and had failed to carry into the market, according to a report from Reuters.

Anglo American, Antofagasta, BHP Billiton and Glencore all closed lower by two percent or more, on the back of a drop in copper and nickel prices.

Traders said their shares were weighed down by Apple's new $999 iPhone X that will ship later than expected, on November 3. The price tag could also pull down demand for the device in markets like China.

Chipmakers have been the best performing among tech stocks this 2017, accounting for a large part of the sector's outperformance. Shares of AMS have gained 165 percent year-to-date.

Looking to media stocks, France's Vivendi, jumped towards the top of the benchmark after UBS upgraded its stock rating for the company to "buy" from "neutral". Vivendi shares rose 2.78 percent.

Ibovespa, the main stock index in Brazil, closed slightly down (-0.17%) at 74,656.67 points Thursday, after spending most of the day near stability. The index was affected by the losses of Vale's shares, which prevented it from ending in the black.

Meanwhile, investors were waiting for the new criminal complaint by the Attorney General's Office (PGR) against the President Michel Temer. Although already expected by the market, the new complaint may bring uncertainties and delays in the pension reform vote in Congress.

Vale's (VALE3 -3.16%) and steel and iron companies such as Gerdau Metal?rgica (GOAU4 -2.71%) tracked the drop of more than 3% in iron ore prices abroad amid lower demand from China.

The locally traded U.S. dollar fell 0.73%, to R$ 3,1160, after three consecutive trading sessions at high, influenced by the 0.41% increase in the Brazilian Central Bank's Economic Activity Index in July over June, higher than expected.

For analysts at Ita? BBA, the Ibovespa would remain bullish in the short-term, but some profit-taking movement is not ruled out after several highs in a row.

Unemployment in Britain has reached a 42-year low, which intensifies the Bank of England's predicament. On Thursday, the BoE is set to meet where it must consider whether to hike interest rates despite stagnant wages as well as Brexit uncertainty.

In the three months to July, the jobless rate dropped to 4.3 percent, two-tenths of a percentage point below the central bank's estimate of the sustainable long-term level.

Combined with inflation rising to 2.9 percent last month, the data could indicate the need for higher interest rates to cool the economy and restrain the inflation's rise.

Average wages, both including and excluding bonuses, did not pick up from a stagnant annual pace of 2.1 percent, surprising expectations and implying that unemployment might go even lower before fueling wage pressures.

Prices in the overnight index swap market, which tracks official interest rates, implies that the BoE will hike rates back to 0.5 percent from the current low of 0.25 percent in February in 2018.

Wages in Britain remains £15 lower per week in cash terms and 3.2 percent lower after adjusting for inflation than before the crisis.

The BoE's dilemma is that low unemployment has yet to compel employers to increase wages, and prices will likely stop rising on their own once businesses have adjusted to the pound's post-Brexit tumble, which has hiked import costs.

Defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. is near a deal to purchase Orbital ATK Inc. for over $7.5 billion, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the transaction. An announcement could come as soon as Monday, as stated in the report.

Northrop Grumman declined to comment and Orbital did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A merger could expand Northrop's portfolio of aerospace and defense electronics while supporting its expertise in composites and rocket propulsion as it goes up against Boeing Co. to replace the U.S. ground-based nuclear defense system.

Northrop is valued at $46.5 billion, while Orbital is valued at $6.3 billion. The acquisition price could not be immediately specified, but could surpass $7.5 billion if a typical premium was attached to it, according to Wall Street Journal.

Orbital competes to lift payloads to space with SpaceX Exploration Technologies Corp.'s Falcon 9 and United Launch Alliance's Atlas family of rockets.

The potential transaction comes as growing tensions with North Korea have put more attention on defense systems.

Northrop Chief Executive Officer Wesley Bush told investors in its second-quarter earnings call in July that he was looking for acquisition opportunities to broaden the contractor's business. It would mark a change in direction for a company that has focused on shareholder returns through stock buybacks and dividends.

Venezuela has decided to receive payments for its oil exports in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The move is a reaction to the recent sanctions imposed by the United States government against the South American country.

This week, oil was quoted for the first time in Chinese yuan by the Venezuelan Ministry of Petroleum, at 306.26 yuan per barrel, equivalent to US$ 46.75.

The new system, launched in early September, "is based on the use of freely convertible currencies, such as the yuan, the euro, the Japanese yen, rupees (from India) and international. To break the dollar's chains as an oppressive currency," Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro said, quoted by the official Venezuelan News Agency.

In mid-August, the U.S. President Donald Trump signed a decree imposing a sanctions package on Venezuela that bans negotiations on new government-issued debt and assets from state-owned oil company PDVSA.

U.S. stocks finished higher on Monday as investors looked ahead to a key Federal Reserve meeting. Equities extended a record-breaking run with gains being propelled by resurgent energy firms benefiting from an increase in oil prices.

The Dow Jones industrial average advanced 0.28 percent to 22,331.35 and marked its fifth consecutive record finish. Boeing and Caterpillar contributed the most to gains.

The S&P 500 also ended at an all-time peak of 2,503.87, climbing 0.1 percent, with financials leading gainers. The Nasdaq composite notched an intraday record before finishing 0.1 percent higher at 6,454.64. Nvidia's almost five percent gain pushed the S&P and the Nasdaq higher.

Seven of the 11 major S&P sectors were higher, driven by a 0.95 percent advance in the financial index.

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, reached 9.88, its lowest level since Aug. 8. It traded 0.5 percent lower at 10.12.

Energy stocks have also been key to recent earnings growth, although the upbeat figures are coming off low comparisons after 2016's turmoil in the market, according to analysts.

Oil and gas firms ConocoPhillips and Hess, alongside refining company Valero Energy, were among the best performing energy stocks by end of trading.

Shares of major lenders, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan, climbed over one percent, supported by increasing bond yields.

Orbital ATK notched a record peak after Northrop Grumman announced it will purchase the missile and rocket maker for almost $7.8 billion in cash. Shares of Northrop gained two percent.

U.S. equities advanced on Tuesday as the Federal Reserve started its two-day monetary policy meeting. The three major indexes reported intraday highs on Monday.

The Dow Jones industrial average marked its 41st record close of the year, climbing 0.18 percent to 22,370.80. Verizon and Goldman Sachs contributed the most to the gains.

The S&P 500 added 0.1 percent to a record peak of 2,506.65, with telecommunications and financials leading gainers. The Nasdaq composite rose 0.1 percent and also reported a record close of 6,461.32.

The Fed is not expected to hike rates following its meeting. However, several market participants believe the central bank will announce the tapering of its $4.5 trillion portfolio.

The healthcare index was one of the biggest decliners amid losses in insurers like United Health, which dropped 1.9 percent as a result of recent efforts in Washington to overhaul Obamacare.

The largest U.S. telephone operators, Verizon and AT&T climbed over two percent, helping to lift the S&P. Wireless carrier T-Mobile advanced 5.3 percent while Sprint soared 8.1 percent, after a report that they were in active merger talks.

Tesla dropped 2.4 percent after Jefferies began coverage of the electric car maker's stock with “underperform”.

Best Buy tumbled 7.4 percent after the retailer forecast 2021 adjusted earnings well below Wall Street estimates. The stock was one of the largest laggards on the consumer discretionary index. Tags: Investments, Share, Stocks, bonds, Equity markets

Gold prices dropped to its weakest level in more than three weeks on Thursday as the stronger U.S. dollar and the increased chances of another Federal Reserve interest rate rise this year have reduced demand.

Spot gold fell 0.2 percent at $1,298.61 per ounce, after earlier falling to its lowest since late August at $1,295.65.

U.S. gold futures for December delivery shed one percent to $1,302.10 per ounce.

The precious metal initially moved higher in the minutes ahead of the Fed's statement, then reversed course and dropped. It briefly plunged below the $1,300 mark that traders had viewed as psychological support. Bullion reached $1,295.81 per ounce, the lowest since Aug. 28.

According to Bill O'Neill, co-founder of Logic Advisors, speculative investors had increased their net long position in gold for nine consecutive weeks, making the market vulnerable to more selling.

The dollar firmed as Asian shares fell marginally following the Fed's announcement to begin reducing its balance sheet and indicated one more rate rise in 2017.

U.S. allies recently said that enforcing international sanctions on North Korea, and not mere dialogue, was the key to getting Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons.

Meanwhile, the locally traded U.S. dollar closed the day at 2,905.80 Colombian pesos, marking a 0.32% fall, due to the increased perceived risk of political tensions between the United States and North Korea.

Wilson Tovar, an analyst at Acciones & Valores, pointed out that the greenback is giving way to other reserve currencies abroad, especially the Japanese yen.

The euro fell as Angela Merkel's win as German Chancellor was tainted by a worse-than-anticipated result that leaves her with challenging coalition talks.

Despite Merkel winning her fourth term in office, the euro ended a two-day rally as her current coalition party, the Social Democratic Party, excluded itself from an agreement with Merkel's Christian Democratic Union, making the establishment of a united government more difficult. Merkel will need to reach a consensus with pro-business Free Democratic Party and Green Party in order to form a coalition, a development that may need months.

The common currency fell 0.2 percent at $1.1934, increasing the gap between a two-and-a-half year high of $1.2092 hit on September 8, when the ECB policy meeting lifted hopes of currency bulls that the central bank would start unwinding its massive stimulus program.

While majority of currency analysts see the euro closing the year above the $1.20 mark after its 13 percent rally so far this year, lengthy negotiations to establish government could affect market sentiment. The FDP opposes further EU integration, while the far-right anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany party entering the parliament could put nationalist pressure on Merkel.

The Foreign Ministers of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay and Peru have reaffirmed the Lima Declaration, in which they pledge to joint efforts to solve the political crisis in Venezuela. The decision came at a meeting in New York last week.

In a statement released by the Mexican Foreign Ministry, the signatories regretted that Venezuela maintains "the breach of the democratic order, since its government violates constitutional norms, the will of the people and inter-American values, crackdown political dissent, hold prisoners and violates human rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals."

They also expressed "support and solidarity to the democratically elected National Assembly, as well as their commitment to enforce non-recognition of the acts of the National Constituent Assembly (ANC), and to continue the implementation of the Inter-American Democratic Charter to Venezuela."

Wall Street dropped on Monday, as a selloff in technology shares weighed on the Nasdaq, while North Korea's recent warnings to Washington contributed to a cautious tone.

The CBOE Volatility index, a broadly followed measure of market anxiety, notched a 2-week peak of 11.21 and last stood 1.12 points higher at 10.71.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.24 percent at 22,296.09. McDonald's, Visa and Boeing were the worst performers on the index, followed by Apple. Home Depot, Exxon Mobil and Walt Disney outperformed.

Information technology had its worst day since August 17, declining 1.4 percent as the largest loser in the S&P 500, which fell 0.22 percent to 2,496.66. Energy led six sectors up and finished almost 1.5 percent.

The Nasdaq composite briefly dropped over one percent but finished 0.99 percent lower at 6,370.59 in its worst day since September 5.

Shares of Apple dropped for the fourth consecutive day. The stock declined five percent the previous week, its worst week in over a year, following the launch of the iPhone 8 and some other products in stores. The stock remains almost 30 percent higher for 2017.

Social media giant Facebook fell 4.5 percent in their worst day of the year. It dropped a proposal to issue a new class of shares that will allow CEO Mark Zuckerberg to maintain voting control and fund the firm's philanthropic efforts.

The declines in tech were counterbalanced partly by a sharp rise in the energy sector, which climbed 1.5 percent. The sector was poised for its sixteenth advance in the previous 18 sessions.